Wonderful news Rachel.

I had typed earlier about my friends little sister who was in an accident and suffered major frontal lobe damage. Well a maricle has occured She has come out of her coma and has responded wonderfully to therapy. She has quite a bit of memory issues. Quite frequently she has to be reminded that she is not 11. However, She is able to walk and talk. She is a bit impulsive and forgetful. She doesn't always understand that her sister is dead. She is healing though and I believe that it is because of prayers and therefor I am thanking all of you who prayed for her. God bless you and keep you and your families safe. Rachel

I had to admit that when my nephew told me his feeling about red, white and blue quilts, it brought tears to my eyes. He was extremely pleased that quilts are being made for wounded soldiers. The news touched him deeply as he has served four tours in Iraq and his cousin is there now.

I do believe that wounded soldiers would feel wrapped in love with any color quilt. I can only imagine how it would feel to have a quilt that a stranger made for me, so very special.

JoAnne

JoAnn, I never thought of that, it is interesting. The group that are making Quilts for Troops ask for red, white, blue and khakie. I will have to mention that to them. Thanks

JoAnne Thanks for the input on the color of the troop blankets. I work with the local Quilts of Valor which is headed by a gold star mother. The quilts that are made are not the flag colors but toned, cinnamon, off white, midnight blue. Our group has sent over 250 quilts to Walter Reed Hospital. I normally help with the binding and will post a couple of pictures when I finish the newest group.

It is so much fun to read about what others are doing. Ladies, you all make me proud to say that I am a quilter! Pat

CarolynArts wrote:

I am frequently given scrap fabric or when I see scrap fabric I take it rather than see it thrown in the garbage. I sort out the fabric into size and who it will go to. I now have a bag that I will take to "Quilts for the Troops" group. I don't sew for this group but they always need red, blue, white and patriotic fabric.
I just learned about a new cause, "Bags of Love" for children 1 to 18 that are taken into foster care because of parental behavior, i.e. taken to jail, etc. They make a bag and fill it with a quilt, toothbrush, soap, other personal items, a stuffed toy and other items that these kids can call their very own. I couldn't believe how many children a month are in need of these bags. I am going to help in our local guild to coordinate projects for this cause.

I am always amazed at the generosity of quilters. I have always told people that ask about owning a quilt shop and the people I deal with, I have the most wonderful customers in the world. When I think of the time and money that goes into all the quilts that are made and given away..boggles the mind.
My guild is making quilts for a local battered womens shelter. We also make soldier quilts for soldiers coming back injured. We have a member that works for a hospital and takes them directly to the soldiers when they arrive. My favorite project is seeing organizations making fabric postcards that they sell and then give the money to their favorite charity. What a great way to use up those scraps!

I also have donated my time to make children's quilts for charity through my guild, Los Angeles County Quilters Guild. Each July meeting is a "work day" for charity. I also am going to start making blocks for the "Home of the Brave" project. These quilts will be given to wounded service men & women. I've also made this contact through my quilt guild.

My guild gives our quilts to the local battered women's shelter, the fire dept. and police dept. We do know that they are very grateful. Knowing that your quilt is going to someone who is in such a great need is so rewarding. Membership in our guild requires that we make at least one quilt for charity each year. Many of us make many more than that.
JoAnne
California

Our Wednesday night Gathering group makes a quilt to raffle off every year.


First year ... money went to Ammi Simms Alzheimer Quilts for Reasearch.

Second Year... money went to local Soup Kitchens at various churches.

This year we are going to dontate to local hospice... but also there is a charity out of NY that buys trendle sewing machines to donate to widows and mothers so they can work out of thier homes. The women are from a number of countries in Africa, and Middle East. The sewing machines cost about $250 to support.

Pat you do a good job on your quilts. I really like Shoo-fly and the African baby quilt. Keep up the good work. Doing things for charity is a pleasure isn't it?
Carolyn

Way back in the '90s, I worked with a nice male RN. He was painfully thin, and we all knew that he had AIDS long before he was comfortable telling us. I knew that his partner would make a panel for the AIDS quilt (remember that huge quilt?), but I didn't see any reason Mike should have to croak to get a quilt, so I gave him one of mine. Then I went to my stash and started cutting 4" strips of conversation prints, in light, medium, and dark, and sewed them together in groups of 10 strips. Some groups were light-medium-light-medium, and some were medium-dark-medium-dark. After pressing, I cut them into 4" wide strips, keeping them in separate piles, and when done, I had enough strips to make 10 quilt tops. I quilted them with in-the-ditch quilting and gave them out to people living with AIDS, and got some of my friends to help. I think we gave out around 30 quilts in a few years, and then they came out with the medication cocktails that helped folks live longer. I still make some of these, for our Quilts For Kids project here in Aransas County, for the teenage kids--they measure 70" by 87". Our little quilt guild has given out 1400 quilts in the last few years, mostly to residents of our county, but we did send a few hundred off for Katrina survivors, too. We also make quilts for the folks here that get Habitat for Humanity houses, and for folks whose houses burn down, and as raffle quilts for local charities. We just finished making some wall hangings from quilt blocks that the kids at Camp Aransazu (camp for very sick children) made, that will be raffled off to support the camp. We also donate a quilt for each child that attends the camp each summer. This is some of the most satisfying work I can imagine doing, and all in our community.


If you'd like to see the charity quilt made of the conversation print and other strips, go to http://community.webshots.com/user/pknord and look in the quilt album, it's on the top row.

Pat in Rockport, TX

Well aside from the one that I just finished this past few months for my son's class to go towards his senior dues. I have made some for various injured peoples benefits. The one I just started on thursday is for one of my best friends little sisters. She was in a horrible accident on saturday. Major frontal lobe damage, it is very sad. My best friend died 7 years ago from a stroke she was 29. Her parents are beside themselves. Please remember them in your prayers tonight. Her name is Valerie. She is very smart and has a lot going for her. She has a masters degree and she has a bright future ahead of her.